Page 66 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

OWEN

I was drying glasses behind the bar the next night, trying not to stare when Lucy walked into The Garden with a group of friends.

What is she doing here? I wondered, my stomach dropping like it always did whenever she was near these days.

Had she heard I’d been picking up extra shifts on weekends—my pathetic way of staying busy now that I couldn’t spend my downtime with her?

Had Theo mentioned spotting me at her meet yesterday, and this was her way of returning the favor? Showing up in my space, teasing me with even more of her presence.

Only this time, instead of showing off her power and talent on the gymnastics floor, she’d get to show me just how desirable all the guys in the club found her, too. Since yep, right behind Lucy and her girlfriends, were Brody and several guys from the hockey team.

Great. A knot tightened in my gut. I get to spend the evening watching other guys try their luck with her.

At least The Garden closed at ten on Sundays, so I’d only have to endure watching the guys fight for Lucy’s heart for two hours max.

The group of college athletes made their way to the same corner where Lucy had been sitting the first night we’d met. Lucy slid in between Nora and a petite brunette, laughing at something one of them said. And I allowed myself to study her for a moment, careful not to be too obvious about it.

Maybe Lucy didn’t know I was working tonight.

Maybe she’d only come here on a Sunday because she knew I usually worked Saturdays.

She shrugged out of her jacket, and when her black corset top came into view, my pulse didn’t just stumble—it crashed hard. Because it was the kind of top that turned heads. The kind that would have every guy in this place taking notice.

Had she dressed like that for the guys with wandering eyes and practiced smiles who’d line up to buy her a drink?

The thought made my stomach churn.

But then her gaze found mine, like she knew exactly where I’d be, and when she sent me a soft smile, the tightness in my chest loosened.

So maybe she hadn’t dressed up for the other guys after all. Maybe she’d dressed up for me.

She turned back to her friends, and I forced my gaze away from her table, trying to shake off the feelings of desire as I set the glasses on the shelf.

When I turned around again, Brody was at the bar with another hockey player.

“Can I get a whiskey and Coke?” he asked casually. Then, doing a double take, recognition lighting up his eyes, he added, “Oh, hey, Professor Park. I didn’t realize that was you.”

“Hi Brody,” I said, managing a smile. “Good to see you.” Then, deciding to keep the focus on this job and not my other one, I asked, “You want that on the rocks? ”

“Yes, please.”

I started making the drink, and when I asked if he wanted to keep his tab open, he nodded, saying, “Yeah. And whatever Lucy gets, put it on my tab, too.”

He handed me his card, and when our eyes met, there was a flicker of satisfaction in his expression.

Are they an item now? A spark of jealousy hit my chest, fast and hot. Has he managed to win her over now that I’ve been forced out of the picture?

I’d always known he wanted her. The guy had never exactly been subtle about it.

But did Lucy want him back as well? Had she moved on to someone closer to her age?

Was it too late to ask Theo not to pass on my message after all?

Because if she was dating Brody, for me to still pine after her suddenly felt a lot less romantic and a lot more pathetic.

I slid Brody’s drink across the bar. “Enjoy your night,” I said, opening his tab.

“I will,” he said, lifting his glass in a mock toast. “Hopefully, I’ll be doing another kind of chemistry experiment with my lab partner tonight.”

And when the wink came next, I had to clamp down hard on the urge to wipe that smirk off his face.

Lucy and Nora broke away from their group and headed toward the bar about fifteen minutes later.

There were two other bartenders standing at the bar and available to help, so they could easily walk over to Malik or Irina to avoid any awkwardness that might happen with me. But instead of heading to the other end of the bar, they stepped up to the counter in front of me.

“Can we get two waters?” Nora asked, speaking for the both of them.

“Sure,” I said, my gaze sliding to Lucy and wanting to stay there. “Coming right up.”

I grabbed two water glasses from beneath the bar and started filling them.

The silence that followed was loaded as I searched for something to say. But nothing was coming.

“So, Owen,” Nora said, thankfully coming to our rescue, “did you hear our team’s going to Nationals after yesterday’s meet?”

“Uh, yeah,” I said, glancing at Lucy. “I heard.”

“Theo said he saw you there,” Lucy said softly, her gaze meeting mine.

“Yeah, I was there.” I sighed as I started filling the second glass. “Couldn’t miss it.”

Her eyes caught mine, and for a moment, the rest of the bar seemed to fade as something unspoken passed between us.

Was she happy I’d been there? Was there still hope for us?

Nora chuckled awkwardly. “Is this the first time you guys have spoken since…?”

“Yes,” Lucy said.

“Okay, cool, cool.” Nora’s gaze flicked between us, eyebrow raised. “Should I leave you two alone for a bit?”

Please.

“You better not,” Lucy said quickly. “Can’t have word somehow getting back to my dad about us breaking his rules.”

Right…

“Want me to grab you anything else?” I cleared my throat and slid their waters across the bar. “Food, drinks, whatever. Brody said to put anything you order on his tab. ”

I knew them ordering water wasn’t necessarily about saving money, since with their strict diet plans, they were only occasional drinkers. But if they wanted food, I might as well have Brody pay for it... Who was I to stand in the way of that?

The girls exchanged a look I didn’t understand. Then Nora, playing buffer for us again, lifted her glass of water with a nod and said, “We’re good, thanks.”

I was just about to ask the girls how they planned to balance the end of the semester and the National Championships happening around the same time—just for an excuse to keep Lucy here another thirty seconds, but then Brody appeared at her side, sliding a hand to the small of her back.

“I’m ready to cash in on that dance you promised me. ”

“Right now?” Lucy’s laugh was awkward, her eyes darting to mine like she hated that I was seeing this.

“This song’s too good to pass up.”

She hesitated, then after seeming to take a breath, she nodded and said, “Okay.” She handed her drink to Nora next. “Can you watch this for me?”

Nora took it, and as Brody led Lucy away, she turned back to me with a sigh. “Don’t worry,” she said, like she could read the jealousy I was trying to hide. “I’m pretty sure she only sees him as a friend.”

“Good to know,” I said.

Though, being pretty sure wasn’t the same as being certain.